Presbyterian church members became passionate about the plight of medical debtors who can’t afford their medical bills after learning about a debt relief effort offered by the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt organization. Through a donor campaign launched in their churches over the summer, together they raised enough money to abolish $4,577,749.43 of medical debt for thousands of Kentucky residents.
Presbyterian church members became passionate about the plight of medical debtors who can’t afford their medical bills after learning about a debt relief effort offered by the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt organization. Through a donor campaign launched in their churches over the summer, together they raised enough money to abolish $4,577,749.43 of medical debt for thousands of Kentucky residents.
One in 10 American adults owes significant medical debt, and that debt causes two-thirds of all bankruptcies. To the Rev. Stacy Cavanaugh of Union Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Wisconsin, that wasn’t acceptable.
Nearly 15,000 people facing crippling medical debt will receive an early Christmas present this year thanks to congregations in the Synod of Mid-America and in neighboring states.
During a virtual meeting on Thursday, the Presbyterian Hunger Program Advisory Committee heard about a variety of approaches that are being used by faith communities to address poverty and homelessness, from taking a group bike ride to paying off medical debt.
Grace United Church of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, a merged congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the United Church of Christ, recently completed a fundraising project to nearly triple a gift of $2,000, to be used with the Matthew 25 invitation’s foci in mind: alleviating hunger and poverty, confronting racism, advocating for criminal justice reform and addressing other social justice needs.
“We were blessed with a $100,000 gift from a donor who wished to remain anonymous,” said Rachel Yates, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Milwaukee. “The donor wanted every congregation — no matter its size — to have $2,000 for mission.”
Add the Presbytery of Milwaukee to the list of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mid councils and churches to help heal people by wiping away their medical debt.
Add the Presbytery of Milwaukee to the list of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mid councils and churches to help heal people by wiping away their medical debt.
